logo

78 pages 2 hours read

Middlemarch

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1871

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
George Eliot

Middlemarch

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1871
Book Details
Pages

904

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Fictional English Town • 1830s

Publication Year

1871

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Middlemarch by George Eliot explores the intertwined lives of various characters in the small English town of Middlemarch. Dorothea Brooke, a zealous reformer, marries the older scholar Reverend Edward Casaubon, only to find herself drawn to his young cousin, Will Ladislaw. Meanwhile, idealistic doctor Tertius Lydgate faces financial ruin due to his wife Rosamond’s extravagance and public suspicion. Other characters include Rosamond’s brother, Fred Vincy, who matures and marries Mary Garth.

Contemplative

Melancholic

Romantic

Nostalgic

Inspirational

Reviews & Readership

4.2

174,991 ratings

73%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Middlemarch by George Eliot is widely praised for its intricate character development and insightful social commentary. Readers appreciate its exploration of politics, marriage, and ambition in a provincial town. Criticisms often note its dense prose and slow pacing, which can challenge modern readers. Overall, it remains a deeply impactful and reflective novel.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Middlemarch?

A reader who enjoys Middlemarch by George Eliot likely appreciates intricate character studies, social critique, and psychological depth. Comparable to fans of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Charles Dickens' Bleak House, this reader values richly woven narratives and exploration of 19th-century societal norms.

4.2

174,991 ratings

73%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

904

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Fictional English Town • 1830s

Publication Year

1871

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.